Climate & Energy

The BPS Energy Division utilizes Building Management Systems to monitor and manage all BPS building utilities, and to find efficiency and conservation opportunities while balancing occupancy comfort levels.

City of Boston Climate Action Plan

The Climate Action Plan serves as Boston’s blueprint for reaching its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020 and carbon neutral by 2050.

Efforts to conserve electricity and water in all schools is essential to managing the escalating costs of utilities and creating a healthy school environment. The Boston Public Schools Energy Division has steadily decreased utility consumption in our schools through increased monitoring, equipment upgrades and repairs, and the sharing of energy and water conservation tips with school staff.

Please note the following measures should be implemented in every building, measures which will have a significant effect on reducing our utility consumption and costs, and improve a healthy school environment:

When possible, turn off classroom/office lights to maximize the use of natural light.

Turn off computers and printers when not in use.

Keep fire doors and all exterior doors closed at all times. When possible, keep classroom and gym doors closed.

Keep windows closed during the heating season, especially at night and during weekends.

During night school activities and building cleaning operations, light only those areas in use.

Report any water leaks to the Facilities Management plumbing supervisor.

Do not block/store items on any unit ventilators or heating elements, especially in classrooms and offices.

Only 3-prong extension cords shall be used, for safety reasons. These cords shall not be extended through doorways or in egress paths to prevent tripping hazards.

Any cooking of food must be supervised at all times to prevent fire hazards.

Building thermostats will be kept at 68 degrees during school hours.

Domestic hot water temperatures will be kept at 110 degrees.

IMPORTANT: Personal appliances (microwaves, heaters, coffee makers, refrigerators, etc.) are not permitted in the classrooms for reasons of fire safety and pest management, unless approved as an accommodation under district policy. Please use personal appliances in shared staff spaces only. For information about the reasonable accommodation process, please contact the Office of Equity at bpsequity@bostonpublicschools.org or 617-635-9650.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to save resources throughout the Boston Public Schools.

Boston Public Schools participates in the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and City of Boston’s program to reduce BPS Demand Capacity Load during the New England grid-wide peak demand times.

Typically, grid-wide peak occurs once or twice per year, for one (1) hour in July or August. Participation requires shutting down Air Conditioning and Ventilation (only) at community schools for that one-hour period, thus reducing BPS electricity demand during the critical grid-wide peak demand time. Because BPS Energy Division usually receives an alert notifying us of the expected peak hour, we pre-cool or pre-heat the buildings in order to minimize the impact of the HVAC shut down during that one hour.

Each year, when the New England electric grid experiences the highest hour of demand throughout the region, the grid operator measures electric use from large consumers such as City of Boston. These measurements are called a building’s “capacity tag”, or how much that building contributed to the need for additional generating capacity across the grid. A building’s capacity tag from one year sets that customer’s capacity cost for the entire following year at a rate of about $10 per kilowatt.

The Greenovate Boston Leaders Program aims to increase understanding of the climate impacts in Boston and the actions required to mitigate the impacts. We want to involve Bostonians as part of the collective action needed in advancing the citywide initiatives. The program gives you the materials and support you need to lead conversations about climate change and climate action.

This program is a great opportunity to network with a wide variety of leaders, learn how to format community discussions around climate change, and to make a positive impact on Boston.

If you are interested in a more intensive program, consider applying to the Ambassador Program, a six-month community engagement, networking, and learning program.

The Ambassador program is an extension of the Leaders program with a greater emphasis on community engagement in around climate action. This program is open to those interested in doing more projects and initiatives around the intersections of climate change and other social issues. This program will examine the interconnections of climate change and prevalent topics affecting Bostonians, such as housing, food access, and more. With the mindset that climate change is happening now and it has a tangible, observable impact on Boston residents.

RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

School activities and resources from Mass Save: Teacher Trainings, Funding, and Lesson Plans.